Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies and Independent Scholars
James Madison UniversityArtificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Technologies, Health Informatics, Information Studies, Interdisciplinary Education, Software
Frana's scholarship and teaching focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to analyzing and understanding artificial intelligence, health informatics, and digital technologies. He is editor and contributor to the Encyclopedia of Artificial Intelligence: The Past, Present, and Future of AI (2021) and advisory board member for the Museum of Science Fiction (MOSF) in Washington, DC. As director of science programming for the MOSF’s annual Escape Velocity convention, he is engaged in the organization’s mission to reinvigorate the interest of young people in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational, and entertaining science festival in the United States, using science fiction as the primary engine.
He received a doctorate in the history of technology, science & medicine from Iowa State University, and a bachelor's degree in history and economics from Wartburg College. He served for many years as software history project director for the Charles Babbage Institute for Computing, Information & Culture at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He is past associate dean of the JMU Honors College and past director of undergraduate research in the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College at the University of Central Arkansas.
Senior lecturer in Research Methods and Postgraduate Supervision
University of South AustraliaDigital Technologies
Dr Carmel Taddeo is a senior lecturer in Research Methods and Postgraduate Supervision at UniSA Education Futures. She ia full member of the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion and an affiliate member of the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning (C3L). Dr Taddeo is a change analyst and has expertise in developing and applying change theories to various contexts, including measuring behaviour and attitudinal change and also has expertise in the ethical use of technology to achieve positive learning outcomes and to promote youth health and wellbeing. Her other areas of research strengths include website evaluation & analytics, as well as leadership. She is a mixed method researcher with extensive experience in online survey methods and quantitative data analysis using SPSS, SMARTPLS & AMOS software packages along with qualitative methods and incorporating youth voice.
Dr Taddeo has successfully attracted research funding from state & federal government agencies. She has collaborated on significant national and state-based projects including: ‘Safe and Well Online’ project as part of the Young and Well CRC; Evaluation of the Safe School's Hub; and ARC funded projects, such as ‘Behaviour at School Study’ and the ‘Professionals Protecting Children’ initiative (Australian Centre for Child Protection).
Dr Taddeo boasts over two decades of experience in the education sector, including practical experience as classroom & specialist teacher & university lecturer. She is an academic member of the National Technology Wellbeing Roundtable: an alliance of research, non-profit, government & industry organisations (including Facebook & Google) that promotes the benefits of technology for youth. Dr Taddeo has also provided her professional expertise to ReachOut - Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people.
In 2016, Dr Taddeo was a finalist in the Australian Effie Awards for the positive messaging social media campaign ‘Appreciate a Mate’, and in the same year was awarded best paper submission in the technology strand at the Australasian Ethics Network Conference. Her other notable distinctions include Outstanding Achievement in International Engagement awarded by the Australian/Indian Research Collaboration at UniSA and Best Collaborative/Multi-disciplinary Project awarded for her ‘Professionals Protecting Children’ initiative.
Dr Taddeo has been a nominated reviewer for high impact journals including Computers & Education and the International Journal of Mental Health Systems. She has also convened the national symposium on New Technologies and Ethics in Wellbeing Research and been an invited presenter at the Australian College of Educators as well as the National Research in Education Network.
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy University of South AustraliaMaster of Education University of South Australia
Bachelor of Education University of South Australia